Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense
- Telephone: 313-965-7900
- Fax: 313-965-7403
- Website: www.kitch.com
Established: 1969
Practice Areas
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Appeals
- Asbestos Litigation
- Banking
- Business Transactions
- Civil Rights
- Collections
- Commercial Litigation
- Complex Litigation
- Construction Law
- Construction Litigation
- Corporate Law
- Creditor Rights
- Dental Malpractice
- Elder Law
- Employee Benefits
- Employment Litigation
- Energy
- Environmental Law
- Equine Law
- Family Law
- Insurance Agents
- Insurance Coverage
- Intellectual Property
- Labor and Employment
- Land Use
- Landlord and Tenant Law
- Legal Malpractice
- Long-Term Care
- Managed Care Liability
- Mass Tort
- Medical Malpractice
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability
- Professional Liability
- Real Estate
- Skilled Nursing Facilities
- Technology
- Title Insurance
- Toxic Torts
- Tribal Law
- Trucking
- Transportation
- Wills
- Workers' Compensation
- Accounting Malpractice
- Alternative Risk Financing
- Antitrust/Unfair Competition
- Appellate
- Architectural Malpractice
- Assisted Living
- Auto-Michigan No-Fault
- Auto-Ohio Litigation
- Bar Exam Appeals
- Birth Trauma
- Business/Personal Tax
- Catastrophic Damage Control
- Commercial Issues
- Commercial Real Estate
- Communication and Media
- Complex Settlements
- Computer Contracts
- Condominiums
- Construction Contracts
- Construction Disputes
- Business Structure
- Defamation/Business Torts
- Employment Consultation and Drafting
- EMTALA Compliance
- Estate Administration
- Estate Taxation
- General Litigation
- Government
- Government Administration
- Government Affairs and Negotiation
- Government Litigation
- HIPAA/Confidentiality
- Healthcare Business/Regulation
- Healthcare Fraud Enforcement
- Healthcare Payment Issues
- Healthcare Regulation
- Healthcare Transactions
- Home Health Services
- Hospital Operations
- Immigration
- Insurance
- Labor Relations
- Long Term Care Litigation
- Medical Marijuana
- Medical Staff
- Medical Staff Bylaws
- Medical Staff Hearings and Litigation
- Medical Staff Peer Review
- Medical-Legal Issues
- Mental Health Law
- Pharmacy Malpractice
- Planning and Land Use
- Psychiatric Malpractice
- RAC Audits
- Real Estate Litigation
- Regulatory Law
- Residential Real Estate
- Securities Disputes
- Securities Fraud Litigation
- Tax Litigation
- Telecommunications and Cable
- Title Litigation
- Tort Reform
- Trusts and Estates
- Zoning
About Us
The Kitch firm is dedicated to offering highly effective representation at a reasonable cost. With over 100 attorneys and six offices in Michigan, Ohio and Illinois, the Kitch firm works to combine superior knowledge with exceptional service to effectively meet its clients' needs.
Since its founding in 1969, the Kitch firm has consistently advanced its geographic coverage and scope of services to provide a competitive advantage to its local, regional, and national clients on an expansive area of legal needs. Although initially founded on healthcare liability services, which remains a core strength, the firm has grown to provide a wide array of legal services. A small selection of these include employment and labor, immigration, business formation and management, insurance and indemnity law, construction, commercial services, mass tort, trucking, asbestos, and high exposure birth trauma. The firm is honored to have been selected by many leading insurers and some of America's largest companies. With its successful history and its client-directed approach to business, the Kitch firm has earned its status as a strong regionally based firm with a national reach.
Additional Locations
- Okemos, Michigan
- 2379 Woodlake Drive, Suite 400
- Okemos, Michigan 48864
- Telephone: 517-381-4426
- Fax: 517-381-4427
- Mount Clemens, Michigan
- Town Square Development
- 10 South Main Street, Suite 200
- Mount Clemens, Michigan 48043-7903
- Telephone: 586-463-9770
- Fax: 586-463-8994
- Toledo, Ohio
- 405 Madison Avenue, Suite 1500
- Toledo, Ohio 43604-1235
- Telephone: 419-243-4006
- Fax: 419-243-7333
- Chicago, Illinois
- 20 North Clark Street, Suite 600
- Chicago, Illinois 60602
- Telephone: 312-332-7901
- Fax: 312-332-7903
Client Information
Insurance Clients
- ACE/Chubb
- ACUITY
- AIG
- CNA Insurance Companies
- Coverys/MHA Insurance Company
- Great West Casualty Company
- Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority
- ProAssurance Corporation
- Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc.
- Sentry Insurance Company
- State Farm Insurance Companies
- U.S. Liability Insurance Company
- Utica Mutual Insurance Company
Non-Insurance Clients
- Ascension Health
- Beaumont Health
- Burger King Corporation
- Central Michigan University
- Ciena Healthcare Management, Inc.
- Comcar Industries, Inc.
- County of Macomb
- Covenant Medical Center, Inc.
- CVS Pharmacy, Inc.
- Detroit Board of Education
- The Detroit Medical Center
- Edward W. Sparrow Hospital Association
- Farbman Group
- HCR Manor Care, Inc.
- Henry Ford Health System
- International Hearing Society
- Johnson & Johnson
- LifePoint Health
- Mackinaw Administrators
- Michigan Municipal League
- Motor City Electric Co.
- Nexcare Health Systems LLC
- Owner Operator Independent Driver Association
- ProMedica Health System, Inc.
- PROTEC
- Trinity Health
- War Memorial Hospital
- Wayne State University
- Wayne Westland Community Schools
- Wyoming Medical Center
Personnel Information
Principals
Richard A. Kitch
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1955
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan (Chairman, Panel #19 Attorney Discipline Board, 1983-; Negligence and Healthcare Law Sections)
Education:
- Wayne State University Law School, LL.B. (with honors), 1954
Born: 1930
Gregory G. Drutchas
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1973
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1974
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1977
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1985
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1985
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan (Former Chairperson, Committee on Insurance Law; Health Law Section)
- Michigan Society of Healthcare Attorneys
- Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association
- American Health Lawyers Association
Education:
- University of Michigan, A.B., 1970
- Duke Law School, J.D., 1973
Born: 1949
Ronald E. Wagner
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1975
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, 1975
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1978
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
- Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- Western Michigan University, B.A., 1966
- Western Michigan University, M.A., 1969
- Detroit College of Law, J.D., 1975
Born: 1944
Ralph F. Valitutti, Jr.
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1976
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1976
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1977
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1979
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan (Former Chairperson, Medical/Legal Committee)
- Michigan Society of Hospital Attorneys
- Catholic Lawyers Society
- American Society of Law and Medicine
- Defense Research Institute
- Association of Defense Trial Counsel
- Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
Education:
- Babson College, B.S.B.A., 1972
- Detroit College of Law, J.D., 1976
Born: 1950
Mark A. Wisniewski
CEO
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1990
- Illinois, 1991
Memberships:
- Illinois State Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
- Wayne County Asbestos Steering Committee
Education:
- University of Michigan, A.B., 1987
- University of Detroit, J.D., 1990
Born: 1965
John S. Wasung
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1984
- Ohio, 1991
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1984
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 1990
Memberships:
- American (Torts and Insurance Practice Section), Ohio State and Toledo Bar Associations
- State Bar of Michigan (Environmental Law and Negligence Law Sections)
- Society of Ohio Hospital Attorneys
- Association of Defense Trial Counsel
- Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- University of Michigan, B.A., 1981
- Wayne State University, J.D., 1984
Born: 1958
John Paul Hessburg
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1986
- District of Columbia, 1989
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1986
Memberships:
- Bar Association of the District of Columbia
- State Bar of Michigan
- Healthcare Association of Michigan
- Michigan Home Health Association
- Michigan Center for Assisted Living
- American Health Lawyers Association
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- St. John's University, B.S., 1983
- The Catholic University of America, J.D., 1986
Born: 1961
Karen Bernard Berkery
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1985
- New York
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1988
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1989
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1990
Memberships:
- New York State Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
- Michigan Society of Hospital Attorneys
Education:
- Rutgers University, Douglass College, B.A. (with honors), 1981
- State University of New York at Buffalo, J.D. (cum laude), 1984
Born: 1959
Daniel R. Shirey
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1986
- Florida, 1988
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1986
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
- The Florida Bar
Education:
- Michigan State University, B.A. (with honors), 1982
- University of Illinois, J.D., 1986
Born: 1960
John M. Sier
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Iowa, 1986
- Michigan
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1986
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1991
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1996
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 2003
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
- Catholic Lawyers Society (President, 1999-2001; Emeritus Director, 2002-)
- Building Owners and Managers Association of Metropolitan Detroit (Secretary and Board Member, 2002-)
Education:
- Loyola University, A.B., 1983
- Drake University, M.A./J.D., 1986
Born: 1961
Michael J. Watza
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1986
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1987
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1987
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
Education:
- Michigan State University, B.A., 1978
- Detroit College of Law, J.D., 1986
Born: 1956
Thomas R. Shimmel
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1988
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1988
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
Education:
- Albion College, B.A., 1984
- Wayne State University, J.D., 1987
Born: 1962
Barbara A. Martin
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1990
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1990
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
- Oakland County Bar Association
- Michigan Society of Healthcare Risk Management
Education:
- Albion College, B.A. (with honors), 1980
- University of Detroit, J.D., 1990
Born: 1958
Richard J. Suhrheinrich
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1992
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1993
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1996
Education:
- Vanderbilt University, B.A., 1988
- Indiana University, J.D./M.B.A. (cum laude), 1992
Born: 1966
Steve N. Cheolas
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1980
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
- Macomb County Bar Association
Education:
- Hillsdale College, B.L.S., 1977
- Wake Forest University, J.D., 1980
Born: 1955
Richard J. Joppich
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1988
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1989
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1995
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
- Washtenaw County Bar Association
- Michigan Society of Hospital Risk Managers
- Michigan Rural Health Association
Education:
- Bowling Green State University, B.S., 1982
- Detroit College of Law, J.D., 1988
Born: 1959
Dean Etsios
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1990
Memberships:
- Hellenic and Washtenaw County Bar Associations
- State Bar of Michigan
- Michigan Society of Health Care Risk Management
Education:
- University of Michigan, B.A., 1986
- Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington, J.D., 1990
Born: 1964
Cheryl A. Cardelli
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1983
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- Central Michigan University, A.B. (cum laude), 1970
- Central Michigan University, M.A., 1978
- Detroit College of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 1983
Born: 1949
Mary Catherine Storen
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1994
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
- Women's Economic Club of Detroit
Education:
- Michigan State University, B.A. (with honors), 1990
- University of Detroit, J.D., 1993
Born: 1968
David C. Wiegel
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1997
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Memberships:
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
- Catholic Lawyers Society
Education:
- Michigan State University, B.S., 1988
- University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 1997
Born: 1965
Jenna Wright Greenman
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2000
Memberships:
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
Education:
- University of Michigan, B.S. (cum laude), 1997
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D. (cum laude), 2000
Born: 1975
Christina R. Ginter
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1996
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1998
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan (State Bar Appellate Practice Court Liaison/Rules Comment Committee; Appellate Practice Section Counsel, 2005-)
Education:
- University of Michigan, B.A., 1993
- University of Michigan, J.D. (cum laude), 1995
Born: 1971
Mark M. Sesi
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2001
Memberships:
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
Education:
- Michigan State University, B.A., 1998
- Michigan State University, J.D., 2001
Language:
- Chaldean
Born: 1976
Michael T. Walsh
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Illinois, 1991
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Memberships:
- American, Illinois State and Chicago Bar Associations
Education:
- St. John's University, Collegeville, B.S., 1988
- The John Marshall Law School, J.D., 1991
Marcy A. Tayler
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1988
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan (Treasurer, Litigation Section)
Education:
- University of Michigan, B.A., 1985
- Wayne State University, J.D., 1988
Born: 1963
Terence P. Durkin
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2001
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2003
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
- Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (Chair, Professional Liability and Health Care Section)
Education:
- Millikin University, B.A., 1995
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., 2001
Born: 1972
Christina A. Doyle
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2005
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
Education:
- Michigan State University, B.A., 2002
- University of Michigan, J.D., 2005
Born: 1980
Patrick M. Fishman
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1988
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
- Oakland County and Detroit Metropolitan Bar Associations
Education:
- University of Michigan, B.B.A., 1985
- University of Detroit School of Law, J.D., 1988
Rick J. Wittmer
Chicago, IL
Admitted
- Illinois, 2005
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Memberships:
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Illinois Healthcare Association (Legal Committee)
Education:
- Drake University, B.A. English, 1993
- The John Marshall Law School, J.D., 2005
Timothy P. Brady
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2005
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
- Association of Defense Trial Counsel (Board of Directors)
Education:
- Boston College, B.A., 2001
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, J.D., 2004
Born: 1978
Gregory A. Behler, Jr.
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2011
Education:
- Michigan State University, B.A., 2007
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., 2011
Born: 1985
Steven P. McCauslin
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2001
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
Education:
- Michigan State University, B.A., 1998
- University of Detroit Mercy, J.D., 2001
Born: 1976
Joslyn R. Iafrate
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2010
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
Education:
- Wayne State University, B.A., 2006
- University of Detroit Mercy, J.D., 2010
Born: 1983
A. Gabe Sybesma
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2003
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2008
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
Education:
- Central Michigan University, B.S., 2000
- University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, J.D., 2003
Meghan Kennedy Riordan
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1990
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
Education:
- Canisius College, B.A., 1987
- University of Detroit School of Law, J.D., 1990
Michael E. Geraghty
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1997
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Education:
- John Carroll University, B.A., 1992
- University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, J.D., 1997
Carina M. Kraatz
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2010
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Memberships:
- Federal, Oakland County and Detroit Bar Associations
- State Bar of Michigan
- Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association
- Consumer Bankruptcy Association
- National Association of Women in Construction
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Building Owners and Managers Association
- Engineering Society of Detroit
Education:
- Wayne State University, B.A., 2006
- University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, J.D., 2009
- University of Windsor, LL.B., 2009
Brian Boehne
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2012
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
- Oakland County Bar Association
Education:
- Wayne State University, B.A., 2009
- The University of Toledo College of Law, J.D., 2011
Language:
- German
- Spanish
Patrick Cella
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Illinois, 2002
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Memberships:
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- Miami University, B.S., 1999
- DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 2002
Kevin Davis
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1987
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
Education:
- University of Detroit, J.D., 1987
Thomas D. Esordi
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1991
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
Memberships:
- Federal Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
Education:
- Kenyon College, A.B., 1988
- University of Detroit School of Law, J.D., 1991
Matthew H. Faiver
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2014
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Education:
- Michigan State University, B.A., 2011
- Wayne State University Law School, J.D., 2014
David T. Henderson
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Ohio, 1996
- Michigan
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio
Education:
- University of Michigan, B.A., 1993
- The University of Toledo, J.D., 1996
Brandon R. Koppin
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2013
Education:
- Eastern Michigan University, B.A. Political Science, 2009
- Wayne State University Law School, J.D., 2013
Alison Krempa
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2011
Education:
- Saginaw Valley State University, B.A., 2006
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D. (cum laude), 2011
Ahndia Mansoori
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2018
Additional Biographical Details:
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (Director, Alumni Council)
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan (Immigration Section Executive Committee)
- Detroit Bar Association (Barrister's Board)
- Women's Lawyer Association of Michigan
- Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (Co-Chair, Immigration Law Section)
- American Immigration Lawyers Association
Education:
- Purdue University, B.A., 2014
- University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, J.D., 2018
Michael Paolucci
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1991
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- Oakland University, B.A., 1986
- Detroit College of Law, J.D., 1991
Lindsay Rose
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2007
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
Education:
- University of Michigan, B.A., 2003
- Michigan State University College of Law, J.D., 2007
Laura M. Sherbrook
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2016
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Education:
- University of Michigan, B.A., 2013
- Michigan State University College of Law, J.D., 2016
Eva C. Sosnowska
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Illinois, 2012
Memberships:
- Illinois State and Chicago Bar Associations
Education:
- Scripps College, B.A., 2006
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D., 2011
Language:
- Polish
- French
- Spanish
Michael L. VanOrder
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 2012
Education:
- Wayne State University Law School, J.D., 2012
MIchael Vecchione
Detroit, MI
Admitted
- Michigan, 1980
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Memberships:
- State Bar of Michigan
- American Institute of CPAs
- Michigan Association of CPAs
Education:
- Eastern Michigan University, B.B.A. Accounting (with honors), 1976
- The University of Toledo, J.D., 1979
- Wayne State University Law School, LL.M., 1987
- April N. Malak
- Daniel Palmer
Associate Principals
- Brett Asher
- Benjamin Craig
- Danielle Dezbor Craig
- Alexander Dombrow
- Kaitlyn Elias
- Nicholas Galea
- Martin E. Goff
- Katharine W. Gostek
- Farah R. Israel
- Nancy Kaplan
- Michael B. Kern
- Francisco Lozano
- Andrew McKeachie
- Hass Merhi
- Andrew Miller
- Gina Puzzuoli
- Eduardo Reyes
- Justin Rostker
- Paul C. Shailor
- Ed Shankin
- Jill N. Story
- Nathan Thomas
- Sarah Thomas
- Craig Thompson
- Rebecca Waisanen
Announcements
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